Daybreak Again - January 7/8, 2012

Catherine Oshanek's Facebook page features a self-portrait that's not very flattering. She glares out at the camera with a black eye, holding a sign in front of herself, that says "FAT." Her portrait is just one of many on a Facebook page - part of an awareness campaign called I've Been Bullied. Catherine herself is a fashion photographer and this anti-bullying campaign comes out of her own experience as well as the experience of others she's worked with in the fashion and modelling industry. Catherine Oshanek joined Russell Bowers in the Daybreak studio to talk about it.

The dramatic TV series Blackstone has been getting rave reviews and acclaim during it's first year on APTN. That early success was recognized this past fall at the Germini Awards, when Michelle Thrush was awarded with Best Actress in a Drama. In her acceptance speech, she made note of the late actor, Gordon Tootoosis and the role he played during her 25 year career. In addition to her dramatic work, Michelle also works with kids and has just appeared in Catherine Oshanek's anti-bullying campaign. You can also see her on CBC Television in the new show, Arctic Air. Michelle spoke with Russell ahead of her series, Blackstone, debuting for it's new season on January 11 on APTN.

Clayton Bellamy has had a successful career, both as a solo artist and as a member of the country rockers, The Road Hammers. He's in Alberta to appear at the Calgary and Edmonton Motorcycle Shows to promote his new solo single, Eveyone's a Dreamer. He spoke with Russell about his life in Nashville and they started by played Nashville Bound by the Road Hammers.

It's always exciting to have a goal to be a writer and to have that dream come true and get your book published. For one Edmonton writer, her dream has become real and her first novel has just hit the shops. Michelle Ferguson is the author of From Away, a novel about a young woman who gets caught up in the shenanigans of life in an East Coast fishing village. The busy mother of 5, lawyer and now author talked with Russell from her home in Edmonton.

The NFL playoffs are underway and the 2011 season has been a strange one with few teams excelling and many playing to rather middling results. Some teams got into this year's playoffs only because other teams lost their last games of the season. Lots of fans will be gathering around TV sets and bars this week-end to see if Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Rothlisburger can regain his championship form. The Detroit Lions will make a rare playoff appearance this year but they face recent champs, New Orleans Saints. Then there is the mountain miracle worker, Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Denver Broncos. To look ahead to the match-ups, Russell called Damon Durante, a professional odds-maker for the website, GR88.com.